THIEVES who carry out smash and grab raids on cars are being targeted by police.

Crooks looking for easy pickings, such as Christmas presents, briefcases and handbags left on car seats; are to be picked up themselves, by dedicated police teams.

A special operation using stake out teams and officers posing as motorists, is being launched, covering shopping centre and district car parks across Teesside.

Motorists are being given advice on how to remove temptation from car thieves.

These range from urging drivers to remove the radio before leaving their car, ensuring the car is locked, that the alarm is switched on and that all valuables are out of sight.

A repair bill for a car which has suffered a break-in can vary from £500 to £1,200.

Thousands of stickers and rear view mirror hanger warnings are being printed and distributed across east Cleveland informing thieves the cars they are checking out are secure, with nothing valuable left inside.

The operation, in Redcar, is a spin-off from an active multi- agency crime task force.

Detective Inspector Gordon Lang, the man in charge of the task group said: "We will be mounting a special operation on the district's car parks and other areas in the run-up to Christmas.

"Cars are at risk wherever they park, but if people take on board these few simple prevention measures, they'll go a long way to ensuring the Christmas presents they've just bought will be going home with them."

Councillor Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: "We are using our resources to drive home the message on autocrime and raising public awareness."

Cleveland Police said an operation was being launched covering car parks across Teesside.